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Symphony sets stage at southern Utah's red rocks

The Associated Press

Updated:
08/16/2014 11:25:16 AM EDT

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Graeme Mutchler warms up with his trombone during rehearsal before the Utah Symphony performance Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, at the edge Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. The Utah Symphony hopes to complement the beauty of Utah's soaring red rocks and canyons with free desert performances near Utah's national parks this weekend. The 75-piece orchestra is set to perform Friday near Bryce Canyon and Saturday near Zion National Parks. (AP PHoto/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Symphony is using classical music to complement the beauty of Utah's soaring red rocks and canyons with free desert performances.

The 75-piece orchestra performed Friday at the edge of Bryce Canyon National Park. A performance is scheduled Saturday near Zion National Park.

For the performances, the symphony prepared movements from Dvorak's "New World Symphony," Bizet's Orchestral Suite from Carmen, and Gershwin's "An American in Paris."

"This is what art is about — not just being in the concert hall," music director Thierry Fischer told the Salt Lake Tribune this week in Teasdale, near Capitol Reef, where the tour began.

Bryce Canyon National Park is shown before the start of the Utah Symphony performance Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, in Bryce Canyon, Utah. The Utah Symphony hopes to complement the beauty of Utah's soaring red rocks and canyons with free desert performances near Utah's national parks his weekend. The 75-piece orchestra is set to performed Friday near Bryce Canyon and Saturday near Zion National Parks. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer/AP)

Instead of concert hall seats, those attending were advised to bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on the grass or rocky ground, organizers said.

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Music Director Thierry Fischer conducts the Utah Symphony Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, at the edge Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. The Utah Symphony hopes to complement the beauty of Utah's soaring red rocks and canyons with free desert performances near Utah's national parks this weekend. The 75-piece orchestra is set to perform Friday near Bryce Canyon and Saturday near Zion National Parks. (AP PHoto/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer/AP)

Utah Symphony's stage crew sets up a portable stage before the Utah Symphony's performance Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, on the edge Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Two dozen crew are needed to transport the stage in a semi trailer and transform it into a pop up stage, often taking 8 to 10 hours to accomplish. The Utah Symphony hopes to complement the beauty of Utah's soaring red rocks and canyons with free desert performances near Utah's national parks his weekend. The 75-piece orchestra performed Friday near Bryce Canyon and Saturday near Zion National Parks. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer/AP)